Republican leaders have picked three prospects to replace former Republican state Sen. Scott Bundgaard of Peoria.

Arizona’s system of public campaign financing has been dealt a major, although expected, blow by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled today that the matching funds provision of the Clean Elections Act is unconstitutional.

On an early winter evening, more than 300 people gathered Saturday night at the Arizona Capitol to grieve for those killed and to pray for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others wounded when a gunman opened fire on an event the congresswoman held hours earlier in Tucson.

The 2011 legislative session will begin a few days early for two Arizona lawmakers who will be in Washington D.C. for the unveiling of legislation intended to end birthright citizenship.

After a Christmas Day assault that left Republican Rep. Frank Pratt with severe facial lacerations, a broken nose, tied up and unconscious for several hours, he still considers the area around his business in Casa Grande “fairly safe.”

Some of the 107 candidates who received public money to run for state Legislature this year bought computers, cameras and printers that are theirs to keep and paid relatives as campaign workers and consultants.

Randy Pullen won’t seek another term as chairman of the Arizona Republican Party after a shocking loss in his re-election bid for state committeeman.

Steve Lynn, who chaired Arizona’s inaugural Independent Redistricting Commission, is scheduled to offer his advice today (Nov. 16) when the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments meets to screen 78 applicants for the Independent Redistricting Commission.

Just days after Sen. Russell Pearce promised he would hold off on a proposal to end birthright citizenship, several Republican lawmakers said they would move it forward instead.

Rep. Debbie Lesko was elected House majority whip, beating Rep. David Stevens in the House Republicans’ only contested leadership race. House Speaker Kirk Adams was uncontested in his bid for a second term in charge of the House. Rep. Andy Tobin, who served as majority whip last session, was unconsted in the race for majority leader.